Magnit is a global leader in the contingent workforce management space, with more than 30 years of experience in this domain. Its industry-leading workforce management platform is of particular relevance during the current economic context, as more and more organisations engage with temporary or contract workers to fulfil their needs. The platform leverages an organisation’s data to propose efficient and effective recruitment solutions. Sam Smith, EMEA President at Magnit, spoke about the company’s recent rebrand and its vision.
Tell us a bit more about your business and how it started.
Magnit was founded in 1991, pioneering an approach to workforce management specifically dedicated to contingent workers. The contingent workforce includes anyone who isn’t on the permanent payroll of a business, so that’s agency workers, temporary staff, contractors and more. Eight-three percent of executives report that they are increasingly using contingent workers, and it’s vital that these companies have a specialised approach to managing this significant workforce. Today, Magnit offers a modern, tech-driven solution for doing just that – managing contingent workers across the globe.
How has the business grown since it started and how did you ensure growth?
This question comes at the perfect time as Magnit is going through a period of rapid growth and change. The company rebranded from PRO Unlimited to Magnit in September of 2022, and I was appointed as President for EMEA to lead growth in this region. Magnit also completed several significant acquisitions in the last year, including Geometric Results, PeopleTicker and Workforce Logiq. All of these elements, combined with Magnit’s 4,300+ strong global team, has allowed the business to truly flourish and innovate in the contingent workforce management sector.
What’s the business’ approach to management?
Management at Magnit is based upon four core principles: open communication, transparency, trust and empowerment. We have an incredibly strong team across the globe and injecting these principles into leadership ensures that this team can flourish.
What is your company’s vision and goal?
Magnit’s vision is to make it faster, easier and more scalable to plan, attract and manage the best talent anywhere in the world. Magnit does this by following a vendor-neutral model, meaning that the company is not driven by a single staffing provider. This unbiased approach produces top-quality talent at competitive rates.
What kind of clients and market do you serve?
Magnit works across all industries that leverage contingent workers, which is just about every industry! Our skillset spans everything from healthcare to automotive, with expert teams in each sector to deliver industry-specific workforce know-how.
What has your career looked like so far?
I started my career as a mechanical engineer in the Royal Air Force. Whilst the connection with workforce management might not be the most obvious at first glance, my time in the armed forces gave me a perspective on the real, day-to-day of what makes workers tick. It taught me the value of human connection at work and the value of building out strong teams to drive success. When I moved on from the Royal Air Force I transitioned into software, specifically within the world of recruitment and later into contingent workforce. I love working in this industry and being able to deliver a better experience for those on the ground every day.
How do you equip your staff with skills and knowledge?
As I mentioned earlier, it is truly all about open communication. I ensure that I check in with my team regularly, listening to them and gaining a real understanding of their strengths. I believe in the power of cross collaboration, so by working closely with my staff, I can support the cross collaboration of their strengths.
How do you work with other executives within the C-suite to make sure your voice is heard?
The beauty of working at Magnit is that our C-suite has a wide range of industry-specific expertise. Combined with our global footprint, we’ve developed an environment where everyone is respectful of each other’s knowledge and perspective. Everyone is heard through open and trusted dialogue, whereby each leader can bring their own thoughts to drive collective business success.
How do you ensure different teams in your organisation work together?
Effective teamwork can trickle down through an organisation, meaning that senior leadership must be open to collaboration and make this principle known. When done well, employees throughout the organisation follow their managers’ lead, which is vital for the success of the business.
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